ESRD patients with diabetes may benefit from Baxter’s low-glucose PD regimen

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) today announced results from two large, international multicenter trials demonstrating that a low glucose peritoneal dialysis (PD) regimen favorably impacted metabolic measures important for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with diabetes, including blood glucose (sugar) control and selected lipids (fats and cholesterol). The combined results were presented as a late-breaking presentation at the 49^th Annual European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) congress in Paris.

Results from the combined IMPENDIA/EDEN trials showed that a low-glucose PD regimen led to clinically and statistically significant reductions in serum levels of HbA1c (the standard marker for assessing blood glucose control) in adult PD patients with diabetes. In the studies, significant reductions also were seen with certain lipid parameters including serum triglycerides (type of lipid or fat found in the blood), VLDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (a protein that helps form LDL, or bad cholesterol, in blood) following a low-glucose PD regimen.

"A low-glucose prescription should be considered when managing diabetic patients on peritoneal dialysis," said Joanne Bargman, MD, University Health Network and professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and presenting study investigator. "The data demonstrate low glucose PD regimens may be beneficial in aiding the management of glucose and lipid levels in diabetic PD patients."